The Smithsonian is Coming!!

The library will be having a Museum on Main Street exhibit entitled The Way We Work this coming December and it brings to mind museums and all the fun things you can discover.  Surprisingly (or not) museums do not display even a small percent of their collections.  Hidden Treasures: What Museums Can’t or Won’t Show You by Harriet Baskas takes you on a tour of some of the more unusual hidden objects kept out of the public view.   Take a look through this book and enjoy Truman’s Portrait on the Head of a Pin, read the story about how one museum acquired human skin wallets, and my favorite - the flying pig from Pink Floyd’s online stage show (too big for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio).  SG

Restaurant Life

Brothers Leo and Britt are co-owners of Winesap, a popular restaurant in their small, economically depressed hometown on the outskirts of Philadelphia. They have always considered their younger sibling, Harry a guy who can't settle down.  Harry has flitted in and out of academia and flirted with one career after another. So imagine their surprise when Harry announces that he's opening a restaurant of his own, right down the street. Is Linden big enough for two family enterprises? Can Harry stand the heat or will he have to get out of the kitchen? As the brothers test this recipe for potential disaster, they break a few industry rules (never date the help or the clients), push the culinary envelope (lambs' necks, anyone?), and eventually learn the true meaning of family, friendship, and the secret to a killer soufflé. Bread & Butter by Michelle Wildgen is a delicious read! ML

Lost But Not Forgotten

Here's a fascinating concept for a book -- Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record by Errol Fuller profiles species that have gone extinct within the past hundred or so years, specifically, animals that were photographed before they disappeared completely.  In some cases, the photographs presented provide evidence of the last known members of species.  Fuller concisely describes the documented history of each species and the factors that led to its extinction.  Worth the read if only to see the rare photographs.  HM

The traveling trader

Michael Wigge, aka the Barterman has fulfilled his life-long dream. He is the owner of a home in Hawaii. The real story is that he managed to get it by trading! Michael, an enterprising and adventurous young man started in Mainz, Germany with an apple. He took a bite of it and then traded it for a pack of cigarettes. His book, How to BARTER for PARADISE, follows him through 14 countries for 200 days and documents his trading experiences.  He takes part in a few demonstrations, makes friends with the prince of Hutt River, goes on a crocodile feeding trip and climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro. Reading is believing! Enjoy! DB

The Outdoor Season

We in Michigan are looking forward to all the good things summer brings...swimming, gardening, and of course, grilling! The new book, Better Homes and Gardens Fresh Grilling: 200 Seasonal Recipes reminds you how. We usually just grill the old favorites, steak, burgers, and hot dogs, with the adventurous doing maybe, pizza.
This book tells you the grilling basics, from using fire to grill types and how to do individual vegetables. There is a chapter on marinades, sauces, salsas and rubs.(savory strawberry salsa anyone?)
Finally, the recipes! There are chapters for vegetarians, pizza and burgers but also the unexpected like salads, quick smokes and desserts. Delicious! ML